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Note: Bay'at al-'Aqabah al-Thaniya took place in June of that year.
A year later, on the occasion of Hajj in the 13th year of the declaration of the Prophethood, approximately 72 individuals from Madinah secretly pledged allegiance to the Beloved Prophet ﷺ in the crowd at Mina, hiding from their idol-worshipping friends. They vowed to sacrifice their lives for the protection of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ and Islam.
On this occasion, the Beloved Prophet's ﷺ uncle, Sayyiduna Abbas رضي الله عنه, who was not yet a Muslim, addressed the people of Madinah. He said, "Look, Muhammad ﷺ is highly respected and honored within his family, the Banu Hashim. We have always protected him, standing firm against his enemies. Now you desire to take him to your homeland. So listen, if you can support him until death, then it is good. Otherwise, withdraw now."
Upon hearing this, Sayyiduna Bara ibn Aazib رضي الله عنه became angry and said, "We have been raised amidst swords." Before Sayyiduna Bara رضي الله عنه could finish, Sayyiduna Abu al-Haytham رضي الله عنه interrupted, saying, "O Messenger of Allah! We have old ties with the Jews, and now that we have become Muslims, these ties will be severed. We fear that when Allah grants you victory, you might leave us and return to your homeland of Makkah."
Hearing this, the Beloved Prophet ﷺ smiled and replied, "Be assured, your blood is my blood, and know that my life and death are with you. I am yours, and you are mine. Your enemy is my enemy, and your friend is my friend.”
With so many people in Madinah embracing Islam, it was as if the Muslims had found a sanctuary. The Beloved Prophet ﷺ then granted general permission to the Companions to migrate to Madinah. Consequently, the first to migrate was Sayyiduna Abu Salamah رضی اللہ عنہ, and after him, others also began setting out towards Madinah. When the disbelievers came to know of this, they attempted to stop the migrants, but despite their efforts, the Companions continued to migrate secretly. Within a short time, a large number of the noble Companions had migrated to Madinah. In Makkah, only those remained who were imprisoned by the disbelievers or were unable to migrate due to poverty. Since Allah Almighty had not yet given the command of migration to his Final Messenger Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ, he remained in Makkah. By his command, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq رضی اللہ عنہ and Sayyiduna Ali رضی اللہ عنہ also stayed in Makkah at that time.”
Later, when the disbelievers, fearing the dominance of Islam formed a wicked plot to kill the Beloved Prophet ﷺ, he ﷺ, by divine command, migrated with Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رضي الله عنه. The disbelievers had set up a strict watch and surrounded the blessed house of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ. The Holy Prophet ﷺ said to Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه: “Sleep in my bed with my shawl over you! After I leave, hand all these entrustments to their owners, and then come to Madinah.” He ﷺ then took a fistful of soil and recited some initial verses of Surah Yaseen, he threw it at the disbelievers, and passed through the crowd of the disbelievers easily with no one even recognizing him. He ﷺ took Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه with him and stayed in the Cave of Thaur for three days and three nights, which was located four kilometers to the right of Makkah. In the Cave of Thaur: Along the way, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه would sometimes walk to the right or left of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ, and sometimes ahead or behind, to prevent any harm from ambushers. When the Holy Prophet’s ﷺ blessed toes began to hurt from walking, he lifted the Beloved Prophet ﷺ onto his shoulders and carried him to the cave. He entered first to ensure that there were no harmful creatures that could harm the Beloved Prophet ﷺ. It is clear that one should not hesitate to sacrifice their life for the love of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ. In the Cave of Thaur, Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, Sayyidatuna Asma رضي الله عنها, and Sayyiduna Amir bin Fuhayra رضي الله عنه served by providing news, food, and milk. The disbelievers also reached the Cave of Thaur in their search, but Allah Almighty protected the Holy Prophet ﷺ and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, as mentioned in Surah At-Tawbah, verse 40: “If you do not help the Beloved (Prophet Muhammad), Allah has henceforth indeed (already) helped him when he had to go out (for migration) due to the mischief of the disbelievers, (being the second of) just two souls when they were in the cave, when he was saying to his friend (i.e. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr), ‘Do not grieve; indeed, Allah is with us.’ So, Allah sent down His tranquility upon him and helped him with armies you did not see, and deteriorated the word of the disbelievers; Allah’s Word is supreme; and Allah is Overpowering, Ever Wise.” After staying in the Cave of Thaur for three days and three nights, they set off for Madinah.
Miracles During the Migration: A snake bit Sayyiduna Abu Bakr's رضي الله عنه heel, but applying the blessed saliva provided relief.
To protect them from the disbelievers, a tree named ‘Umm Ghailaan’ grew at the entrance of the cave, two pigeons built a nest, and a spider spun a web.
Suraqa bin Malik (who later embraced Islam) came to capture them, but the Earth caught him. When the blessed hand touched Umm Ma'bad's thin goat, it gave so much milk that all the vessels were filled.
The journey of migration began on the first day of Rabi' al-Awwal, a Monday, and they reached Quba on the 12th of Rabi' al-Awwal. They stayed at the house of Sayyiduna Kulthoom bin Hidm رضي الله عنه for a few days and during this time, the Mosque of Quba was built, the grandeur of which is witnessed in Surah At-Tawbah, verse 108 . The first Friday prayer was offered in the Banu Salam tribe. Buraydah Aslami came to capture him but became captivated by the love of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ and said, "O Messenger of Allah, your entry into Madinah will be with a flag," and then he made his turban into a flag. Welcoming the Beloved Prophet ﷺ: The people of Madinah would sit on the roads daily, waiting for the arrival of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ. When he graced the land of Madinah with his presence, the people of Madinah shouted, اَللہُ اَکْبَر ُ، جَاءَنَا رَسُوْلُاللہِ جَاءَ مُحَمَّدٌ meaning, "Allah is the Greatest, the Messenger of Allah has come to us, Muhammad has come." Women, children, and slaves recited this Na’at: طَلَعَ الْبَدْرُ عَلَیْنَا مِنْ ثَنِیَّاتِ الْوَدَاعِ۔وَجَبَ الشُّکْرُ عَلَیْنَا مَا دَعَا لِلّٰہِ دَاعٍ meaning, "The moon has risen upon us from the mountains of Wada'. Gratitude is obligatory upon us for as long as there is one who calls upon Allah." Men, women, climbed onto the roofs, while children and slaves shouted in the streets, یَا مُحَمَّدُ یَا رَسُوْلَ اللہ،یَا مُحَمَّدُ یَا رَسُوْلَ اللہ۔"
The disbelievers of Quraysh became greatly distressed at the entire situation, seeing that the people of Madinah had embraced Islam and their numbers were increasing, while people from Makkah were also migrating there. They feared that the Holy Prophet ﷺ might also go to Madinah, gather an army of supporters, and launch an attack on Makkah. Sensing this danger, the leading chiefs of the disbelievers of Makkah held a council in “Dar al-Nadwah.” All the prominent thinkers among the disbelievers participated in this gathering. Various suggestions were presented, and all agreed upon the proposal given by Abu Jahl. His suggestion was that one young man from each tribe be armed with a sword, and together they should attack and—God forbid—martyr the Holy Prophet ﷺ. Since people from every tribe would take part in it, the Banu Hashim would not be able to fight anyone in particular and would be compelled to settle for blood money. Everyone agreed to this plan, and the assembly came to an end. Then Sayyiduna Jibraeel Amin عليه السلام descended with the command of Allah Almighty, informed the Beloved Prophet ﷺ of this plot, and told him not to sleep in his bed that night and to migrate to Madinah.
(Al-Mawahib al-Ladunniyyah, Al-Maqsad al-Awwal, Dhikr Hijratih, 1/144, summarized)
The disbelievers had set up a strict watch and surrounded the blessed house of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ, waiting for him to fall asleep so they could attack. At that time, only Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه was present there. Although the disbelievers were enemies of the Holy Prophet ﷺ, they fully trusted his honesty and trustworthiness. For this reason, they would deposit their valuables with him. At that moment as well, several trusts were kept in his blessed house. The Holy Prophet ﷺ said to Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه: “Sleep in my bed with my shawl over you! After I leave, hand all these entrustments to their owners, and then come to Madinah.” He ﷺ then took a fistful of soil and reciting some initial verses of Surah Yaseen, he threw it at the disbelievers, and passed through the crowd of the disbelievers easily with no one even recognizing him. He ﷺ took Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه with him and stayed in the Cave of Thaur for three days and three nights, which was located four kilometers to the right of Makkah.